A Rhode Island man, Levys Tovar, admitted guilt in federal court for trafficking cocaine. This marks his third conviction related to drug trafficking activities. Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom announced the plea.
Tovar, 43, a former employee of United Parcel Service (UPS), was previously convicted twice and served time for similar offenses. After his second incarceration and while on federal supervised release, he arranged for packages containing cocaine to be shipped from Columbia to Rhode Island.
According to court records, Tovar used his position at UPS to track one package approximately 41 times before attempting to intercept it as it was being sent to a non-existent address in Central Falls. However, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol had already intercepted the package after discovering it contained over 200 grams of cocaine hidden inside machinery.
Further investigation revealed additional packages sent by Tovar from Columbia to various Rhode Island addresses. One package intercepted in Columbia contained about 850 grams of cocaine, while another held over 300 grams inside an old television set. The total amount arranged for shipment exceeded two kilograms of cocaine.
Tovar's guilty plea follows an indictment from February 2023 charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. His sentencing is scheduled for September 2, 2025, where a federal district judge will determine the sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Previously, Tovar was convicted in federal court in 2004 for possession with intent to distribute one kilogram of heroin and again in 2011 for attempting to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.
Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson is prosecuting the current case with assistance from Christine D. Lowell. The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations’ Northeast Corridor Border Enforcement Team; Customs and Border Protection; and police departments from Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Warwick.
